At least 40 Chadian soldiers were killed in a significant attack on their military base Sunday evening, the Chadian presidency confirmed. Following the assault, President Mahamat Déby ordered a counter-mission to pursue those responsible, though no group has officially been named. The base, located on Barkaram Island within the shrinking Lake Chad basin, lies near border areas of Nigeria and Niger, where Islamist militants are active.
Local residents, speaking with AFP, suspect the involvement of Boko Haram fighters. The attackers reportedly seized ammunition and equipment before retreating, marking the deadliest attack on Chad’s military since a 2020 raid that killed about 100 soldiers and led then-President Idriss Déby to initiate a crackdown on militants.
President Déby, an elite-trained soldier and the son of the late President Idriss Déby, personally visited the site early Monday to honor the fallen soldiers and assess the aftermath. Chad is part of the Multinational Joint Task Force with Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria, focusing on combating armed groups in the Lake Chad region. However, militant groups often regroup once military forces withdraw, according to the International Crisis Group.
The attack occurs amidst broader regional instability, with Chad emerging as a key player and a stable Western ally, though it faces pressure over its deepening ties with Russia. Meanwhile, Chad continues to serve as a refuge for thousands fleeing conflict in Sudan, despite denying allegations of involvement in Sudan’s arms trade.